The fire broke out around 11:30 p.m. when the two children were inside and their mother was outside. She tried in vain to break into the accommodation to save her children. Firefighters managed to extricate the two small victims, who were taken to hospital but eventually succumbed to their injuries during the night.
Grootvader Stefaan kapot van verdriet na brand waarbij Kyara (4) and Kyano (8) omkwamen: “Hun mama weet nog noch niet eens dat ze dood zijn” https://t.co/lGrYxELYWi
— Nieuwsblad.be (@Nieuwsblad_be) June 19, 2023
The father of the suspected children
The mother was also seriously injured and taken to the hospital in serious condition. An investigation was immediately launched to determine the circumstances of the fire. Suspicion quickly fell on the children’s father, who recently divorced the mother.
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According to witnesses from the neighborhood, the man has regularly molested his ex-partner and her children since the separation. He was arrested on Monday 19 June and held in police custody until the next day on suspicion of arson causing death.
The suspect was brought before the Antwerp public prosecutor’s office on Tuesday, June 20, a prosecutor told local media Het Laatste Nieuws. His lawyer confirmed the facts and made it clear that his client firmly denied any involvement in the drama.